Psycho Neighbour “So are you growing weed in that funny light box in the garden?” Me “Pardon me? It’s a light trap. For moths.” Her “So that’s why I’m getting lots in the house!!” Me “Your windows are open all night with lights inside. And we have street lamps.” Her: Slams door Me: 🤣 #TeamMoth

I hear a few people asking if the Swifts (Apus apus) have departed yet and when they usually leave… The graph ⬇️ is based on an 616,167 hours of systematic UK counts over the years with 2,128,309 birds logged by contributors to the amazing @trektellen.bsky.social project #UKBirding #Ornithology

The Sheffield Botanical Gardens were looking as stunning as ever today plus some interesting art on show.

@mothiduk.bsky.social I reckon these are looking good for Small Mottled Willow (Spodoptera exigua)? Both to a Skinner trap in suburban Sheffield overnight.

Great to find my first Acorn Weevils (Curculio glandium) with two caught in a Skinner trap in Sheffield this morning. Apparently scarce in the region according to the @nbntrust.bsky.social These awesome beasts drill jnto acorns with their rostrum and lay an egg inside. @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social

#RareBirdsUK Photo by Simon Hugheston-Roberts. Parking is extremely limited on narrow country lanes with cyclists, walkers and horses so drive very carefully. I’ve marked three areas to view. Bird is now visible from the bridge at south end, hide is middle point, top has better parking.

I’ve been studying a few insects lately and thinking how meditative and deeply relaxing it can be (compared to say twitching!). Then @graemelyons.bsky.social and his superb blog led me to research an obscure beetle in a @britentsoc.bsky.social paper and this quote deeply resonated.

Some say ‘𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡’, ‘𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑦’ or ‘𝑔𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡’ but I’m so repulsed by the majority of these venal scoundrels that I propose a new collective noun: 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 Cartoon: Osmani Simanca

Also a few other names mentioned in the Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru app. Hefyd ychydig o enwau eraill a grybwyllir yn ap Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru.

It sounded like a fiasco. I understand the concerns regarding potential disruption to the work of the lifeboat station but surely supervised access could have been arranged? Here’s the account from the superb book ‘The Birds of Spurn’ by the late Andy Roadhouse. #UKRareBirds #YorkshireBirding

Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) on a visit to Sheffield Botanical Gardens today. It’s Welsh name is Llygad Ebrill which translates as ‘The Eyes of April’. Climate change means flowers appear as early as January in Wales. Is a rename due? #shiftingbaselinesyndrome #signsofspring #wildflowerhour

Having witnessed and experienced countless adverse effects caused by this dangerous drug (drink driving deaths and injury, violence, abuse, hangovers, addiction etc) I find it truly astonishing that the term ‘drugs AND alcohol’ is still widely used. This must be one of the greatest misnomers ever!

One of the highlights of a January visit to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens is the collection of Witch Hazels. Most begin flowering just after the winter solstice. This truly gorgeous cultivar, bejewelled with iridescent orange-scented flowers, is Hamamelis × intermedia 'Jelena'. #GardensHour

I met a traumatised ex-soldier a while ago who had served in the Gulf war. Having seen both colleagues and innocent civilians maimed and slaughtered, and a nation destroyed, he simply described the invading coalition forces as mercenaries for rapacious multinational oil companies. #Venezuela

I saw the ‘84 Teeside Lesser Crested Tern (then slept in a bivvy bag on a golf course). Nowadays most of my twitching is vicarious. It is also less stressful and way more comfortable! Having read of the recent elusive Devon bird this bit of kit might come in useful for some? #RareBirdsUK

Some say ‘𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡’, ‘𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑦’ or ‘𝑔𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡’ but I’m so repulsed by the majority of these venal scoundrels that I propose a new collective noun: 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐒 @susiedent.com @merriam-webster.com @oxfordacademic.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org Cartoon: Osmani Simanca

2/ Intriguingly he mentions one of my favourite birds that led to some research. Notably, former names (Ravenser, Ravenser Odd and Ravenser Spurn) from the Old Norse Hrafnseyrr or Ravenser (Raven’s beach or sand bank) refer to what’s now a rare visitor as mentioned in the superb ‘Birds of Spurn’.

Nuclear was never about ‘clean safe energy’. The plants were built to produce plutonium for warheads. Alternatively, billions in govt grants should be invested creating real sustainable employment in the area. I wrote ⬇️ days ago and now hear of a recent earthquake off the Anglesey coast! #Wylfa

Found a range of fungi incl. these smart Scarlet Waxcaps (Hygrocybe coccinea) nr Ringinglow, S.Yorkshire recently. Adjacent fields were emerald green from nitrate fertiliser application but this biodiverse pasture is too steep for the tractor! @britishmyology.bsky.social @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social

Understanding biology isn’t a phobia. Gender dysphoria is the only mental illness demanding the rest of society adopt the delusion as part of their treatment. Ironically the phrase to describe those cowards unwilling to speak up for women’s dignity, equality and safety is ‘grow a pair of balls!’ 🙄

Had a great day visiting the @sheffieldmuseums.bsky.social Millenium Gallery where @sheffielduni.bsky.social ‘Research Arcade 2025’ event was on. Inspiring stalls & lovely people incl green schools, healthy & sustainable eating, art, workers rights etc. Final day tomorrow. Highly recommended.

5/ An example is the recent hot news from the Dearne Valley via www.doncasterbirding.co.uk If this Wood Duck turned up in The Western Isles would it garner attention? Be interesting to know what is best practise for rarities committees with regards to this sticky topic?